Chapter 28: Into The Unknown (1)
*thud!*
"Master… Master, wake up"
Someone is shaking my body. I don't know who… but memories rushed through my head. Yeah… that's right, I fainted… having to swim on that dirty, fleshy, bloody, disgusting water… ah right… Selek carried me, he understands me, right… that's why he…
"NOOO!" My eyes opened and I sat up straight
*ha* *ha* *ha*
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
Welcome to Hell's Breath!
Escape the room unscathed.
[CLEARED]
2nd Floor Reward:
Permanent increase of 'Intelligence' by 15, 'Wisdom' by 5, 'Luck' by 13, 'Magic' by 15, 7% Authority, 5 Gem Points, 10 Fame Points, 3x Highest Grade Healing Potion: Type SSS
Next Floor:
3rd floor
"It must be a nightmare, right? Tell me it's a nightmare, I didn't swim there, right?" I scanned their faces, shocked at my sudden panic
"Master… are you alright?" Drio came to me and wiped my sweat.
"Where are we?" I asked, I noticed the different surroundings I haven't seen before.
*dingg!*
*dingg!*
♤WARNING!♤
It's on observed mode.
3rd Floor is the home of [Lack of Authority], there's only a safe path to follow. Lights of the night are everywhere and one should only take.
Darkness will prevail.
Solve the game of [Lack of Authority], the Lord of [Lack of Authority] and arrive safely.
♤Notice!♤
Safely reach the end.
3rd Floor Reward: [???]
Next Floor: 4th floor
I don't understand the warning description… The walls are darkened just like an old abandoned building, the only light was from the bonfire my group made. The ceiling or sky is unknown because it's only darkness, there are broken woods, dried branches and leaves on the bricked ground.
"We're on the 3rd floor. Theo took the lead and brought us here after you fainted" Efren answered, "We thought you drowned, but Theo said you have a great fear of dirt. The moment you knew you were going to fall on the dirty water you suddenly fainted, even before it touched you."
*flinched*
I looked down at my clothes. It's soaking wet… and smelly. My body stiffened and my stomach twisted, cold sweat ran down my face as every hair on my body stood, my head throbs and my heartbeat was frantic.
"Help me prepare a bath. I can't go on like this- I'll really die this time …" I stiffly stood up and noticed I was sitting from the healing knapsack.
"Theo said we should keep you in there for a while because the stairs to here were underwater, you fainted so you can't swim." Selek explained, he must've noticed my confusion
"Ahh… just like what I expected." I murmured.
I took out a big bathtub from my bag and the water crystal, I didn't think I would use this for this kind of situation. Still luckily I bought it.
When Drio positioned the bathtub a little far from their bonfire enough to let me take a bath freely. Selek made a little torch for me, and they both went back but were still guarding me. I pointed the stone on the bathtub and chant the spell
'Come forth the falls: water!'
A sudden force of water came out. I keep my stand and maintain myself for five seconds. When the time was up, slowly the water stopped, leaving my bathtub full. Finally, I can take a bath… I strip all my clothes and jump on the water, it's a little cold but bearable for the sake of my cleanliness, I'll endure it. I scrub all my body's corners with soap and my hair, I need to scrub all the bacteria out…
After bathing, I pulled another set of clothes. Mr. Fennel, the shop owner, gave this to me as a gift. Unlike my black soaked clothes, this one is the color red almost the same design but I don't like it because it's a little flashy and it matched with my disguise hair Blood colored hair. It's good that it's waterproof according to him. This is the only set I have, so I don't have a choice but to wear it.
I shove the soaked clothes inside my bag, I can just take it home and have the maids clean it with the used dishes that are inside. At least let them do their job.
When I get back, the knights and Theo are ready to go, only waiting for me. I proudly smiled and joined them. They did not leave me or got angry with me, they're just loyal- have I already mentioned it?
"Now I'm all clean, I can continue the journey."
They looked at me and smiled. They avoided their squinting eyes from me, tch.
*dingg!*
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
Your allies are overwhelmed and starstruck by your 'Handsomeness'. You gained 10 fame points.
Your escorts' 'Loyalty' to you evolved to 'Absolute Loyalty'.
Reward : 10 Gem Points, 3% Authority, 15 Fame Points
♤Notice!♤
Current Points
Authority gauge
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
27%
<+3>
Fame Points
165
<+15>
Gem Points
49
<+10>
Money
9778 G : 9864 S : 996 C
"Welcome back, Master/Captain." They said in unison.
We walked and walked in this darkness with torches in hand, we don't know what's waiting for us here, but still we readied ourselves.
*grrr* *howls*
*dingg!*
♤WARNING!♤
Killing intent detected.
Bloodlust reeks from the surrounding.
Be mindful of the surprise attacks.
"Halt." We stopped, "Circle formation" I whispered enough for them to hear me.
"It seems we are surrounded," Efren stated. There are glowing red eyes eyeing us, I haven't figured out anything yet.
Darkness. Creatures. Nothingness.
One beast jumped at Efren, luckily he's ready to block it after he threw the torch aside. It is a scary huge beast with sharp fangs, and it somewhat looks like a bear, the only difference is its back was full of spikes, red glowing eyes and exaggerated long fangs. Efren is blocking it with all his might with a shield.
Another beast came out and it attacked Selek, he dropped his torch and drew his sword and shield, he was helped by Drio. I sensed there was one beast eyeing Theo who hadn't noticed it yet.
"Theo, upfront! Get ready!" Theo let go of the torch and readied to shoot with his bow and arrow.
All four were preoccupied with blocking and shooting beasts, I stepped on the center to try to think.
Darkness. Beasts. Nothingness. Darkness. Beasts. Nothingness. Darkness. Beasts. Nothingness.
Shit! Tania, think carefully, don't panic!
We were attacked shortly after we left the door. That must be the safe zone, after we leave it they can freely attack us
"…urgh!"
"…you piece of shit!"
"Behind you Drio!"
"Ahh- Shit… I got bitten…"
'…fuck! I can do this, think calmly…'
Without applying the rule, one will normally create light on this darkness… 'there's only a safe path to follow. Lights of the night are everywhere and one should only take…' that's what the warning said.
That's it! We made a mistake carrying a torch! Shit why didn't I think about that before?
I threw my torch on the ground. When all torches are on the ground, I take the water crystal out and pull my hood down to cover my head, then point the crystal not on the floor but at the non-existent ceiling, so the force will be freely released.
'Come forth the falls: Water!'
A tremendous force of water came out of the crystal, it's stronger than before. Seconds before the water came down and killed the fire from the torches. Everything went dark. I can't see anything, it's total darkness.
"Master, why did you kill the light? We cannot see the beast's movement." Complained Selek, seconded by Efren and Drio
"Captain, I don't know our position right now…" stated Theo in a panicked tone
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
You got rid of the killing intent and bloodlust.
'Wew…'
"Stop whatever you're doing." I calmly said, "and take a look at the glowing eyes of the beasts."
"They're glowing… but compared to earlier, these eyes are steady and calmed." Voice of Drio
"So the fire was the cause. Hmm… I see. Turns out it was a mistake from the start." Theo's voice
"But how should we find the door without light?" Selek's voice
"No, Selek, look over there!" Efren's voice
"Hey, wha-- Oh... I see." Selek's tone was amazed, "some beasts with glowing eyes are scattered around here because we brought torches, but on that far part were beasts lined up in two- guiding us the way!"
"Nice one, Selek. A point for your correct deduction, keep it up." I praised him.
"Point? What is that for?" Selek's curious voice asked.
"Hmm… maybe if you earn enough points I'll grant you a wish. Same goes for the others" I arrogantly said.
If they grew and learned from me, I can consider that. For now, let them learn from my ways.
"REALLY?!" they all said in unison
"Ehem… Master, you don't have to grant us anything. As long as we can help you, we will assist you." Efren formally stated. Let's tease this serious knight hahaha~ I know you also want it, why be humble?
"Huh? Is that really what you want, Efren?" I asked.
"Yes, Master." He firmly answered.
"It's a pity… Even if you asked me to teach you to cook, I will grant it. It looks like you don't want it…" I said in a persuasive tone
"WE WANT IT!" both Selek and Drio's excited voices
"Oh, really?" I asked, acting surprised, "But Efren, don't want it… do you, Efren?"
"...…" no response
"Hey, idiot what's the hold up? Just agree!" Selek tried to nudge him off the shoulder.
"Y-yes, Master" in low voice
"What?" I asked even if I heard it loud and clear hahaha~ "Sorry, I didn't hear it..."
"Yes, Master, I want it." Still in a serious tone but a hint of embarrassment surfaced. Making Selek and Drio laugh at him.
"C-Captain... C-can I..." Theo's voice sounded shy, "C-can I also take part in it...?"
"Why? Go find your own master Theo, hahaha!" - Selek
"Yeah, Master is our Master" - Drio
'Haa… These childish pricks.'
But why? Didn't Theo plan to pay off the debt of his parents and live happily with his sister?
"Are you sure about that? Why?" I asked what his reason was. Maybe he's after the wish I can grant...? What is it?
"Honestly, when you talked to me back on the 2nd floor… and offered me unknown food, I thought you were bullying me… but after I tasted it, I felt like my hunger took over, then I realized I have finished it." He sounded genuine and I felt relieved, "I want to taste it again and share it with my sister."
Heh~ He thinks I bullied him for giving him food, was my plating really that hideous?
"Hahaha~ You sounded like you're confessing to Master." Selek teased.
"W-w-what?! I-I'm not!" Theo defended.
"Yeah, you better not, Master is… off limits" Drio remarked.
"I-I'm really not… haa… I'm straight." Theo answered.
I almost choked at the words he said, ahh right, I'm disguised as a man. And what's with these idiots saying as if I'm not around, I wanna punch them.
"Of course you can take part, we're in the same party now, Theo."
"Really, Captain?! Thank you!" He sounded like he won a jackpot.
Then someone pulled me into a hug. This kid really likes my cooking, ha. Thank my mother for passing me some of her skill, it's all her.
"Stop hugging me, bruh, it's just cooking, if you wish for me to cook all the dishes I know, then I'll grant it."
"WHAT?! HUGGING?" The three knights shouted in unison, "THEO, LET GO YOU BASTARD!"
It's really not a big deal for me. But maybe it's a big deal in this world, for hugging a lady you have no relationship with. But he didn't know I was a girl, and he didn't mean it.
"Ahh, Captain… Sorry I was just driven by happiness. No one has ever cooked for us since our mother and father died." He sounded happy, what a kiddo
"It's alright." I assured him. "Anyway… How was everyone? I heard someone got bitten."
"It was me, Master. I was so careless to notice the beast behind me so it bit my arm." It was Drio who answered.
"Drink this potion, it'll heal you in a minute."
I gave each of them the healing potion rewarded by the system, in case of emergency. It's proven to be effective, much more effective than the ones in the market.
We reached the end of the way the thousands of beasts' eyes were guiding us. It's a wall, it must be the wall.
"Guys let's push the wall on three." I announced, "1, 2, 3!"
The door creaked open.
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
Safely reach the end.
[CLEARED]
3rd Floor Reward:
Permanent increase of 'Intelligence' by 5, 'Wisdom' by 3, 'Stamina' by 7, 'Luck' by 5, 5 Gem Points, 3% Authority, 5 Fame Points, 5x Highest Grade Healing Potion: Type SSS
Next Floor:
4th floor
The 3rd floor was cleared.
-----
4th floor.
"Master, should we really wait here for two hours?" Selek dubiously inquired
"We should. If we don't want to wander for days." I sat down watch what I just done
"Hahaha. Now I get what you're planning, as expected of Captain." Teo laughed like crazy,